Boy, 7, fatally shot outside gun shop

Joseph Loughery won't face charges for son's death

A Fredonia man won't face criminal charges for the accidental shooting death of his 7-year-old son outside an East Lackawannock Township gun store.

The Herald of Sharon reports that Mercer County District Attorney Robert Kochems has decided not to file charges against 44-year-old Joseph Loughery.

State police said Loughery walked into Twig's Reloading Den with his son, Craig, to try to sell his 9 mm pistol to the store owner on the morning of Dec. 8.

"The gentleman stopped in, wanted to know if I wanted to buy his firearms. I said, 'Not interested,' and he left," store owner Gladys Mohney said.

Loughery left the store and put the boy in a booster seat on the passenger side of his truck, police said. The man then got in on the driver's side, and the gun discharged, hitting the boy in the chest.

"The father is traumatized, visibly shaken," Lt. Eric Hermick said at the time. "It's probably the worst tragedy you could go through to take your own son's life."

Police said the father told them he thought the gun was empty.

"He emptied the magazine out at the residence before he brought it here. Unfortunately, it was not rendered safe. There was one in the chamber, which resulted in the tragedy," Hermick said.

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